A new traffic impact guideline passed by Harris County commissioners in May will require developers to take more responsibility when it comes to road infrastructure projects, marking a shift in how developers are required to approach new projects in the county.
Eric Heppen is an engineer and senior project manager with Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office. He said during a June 5 Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce committee meeting that the new guidelines:
- Require developers to construct full boulevard sections or multiple lanes of roads and complete infrastructure upfront
- Address infrastructure gaps to prevent situations where developers create demand for infrastructure improvements without contributing to the overall project costs
The context
Precinct 3 maintains nearly 6,800 miles of roadway and associated bridges throughout the area and has $31.7 million in Cypress-area transportation projects under construction as part of its Capital Improvement Program and another $84.4 million in the design phase, Heppen said. He said the new guidelines will help ensure the county will be able to find better uses for its mobility dollars.
